FirstEnergy Corp. has been recognized with two awards from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) for its storm restoration efforts in Ohio and its assistance during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The company received an Emergency Recovery Award for restoring power to hundreds of thousands of customers in northeast Ohio after severe weather in August 2024, as well as an Emergency Assistance Award for supporting restoration efforts following the hurricanes.
Wade Smith, President of FirstEnergy Utilities, expressed pride in the employees' dedication: "I am proud of the dedicated FirstEnergy employees who worked tirelessly in the wake of an extreme weather event in northeast Ohio as well as our crews who traveled south to assist with hurricane restoration efforts."
The August 6 storm was the most impactful to hit FirstEnergy's service territory since 1993, affecting Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties. More than 627,700 customers lost power across multiple states served by FirstEnergy, with approximately 497,500 affected in Ohio alone. By August 11, power had been restored to 94% of those affected.
In addition to their work in Ohio, FirstEnergy dispatched about 645 line workers and 300 trucks to aid electric companies in several southeastern states during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The teams logged over 150,000 man-hours while navigating hazardous conditions.
Pat Vincent-Collawn, EEI Interim President and CEO stated: "EEI commends FirstEnergy for its efforts to respond safely and efficiently to the aftermath of the severe weather event in Ohio. We also applaud FirstEnergy for aiding neighboring electric companies in their times of need."
EEI awards are presented twice annually to recognize extraordinary power restoration efforts or assistance provided after service disruptions caused by natural events.
FirstEnergy serves customers across six states through one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems. Its transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of lines connecting regions from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic.